By Graham K. Rogers

Although I maintain a healthy distrust of those in official positions, particularly when it comes to the internet and other related freedoms, it is nice to know that not all politicians are out to control or legislate our online lives away.

Writing on TechDirt, Mike Masnick outlines some of the ideas of Marietje Schaake, a member of the European Parliament, who is apparently quite aware in technical terms. The item here comments on, and links to an article that Schaake has written concerning online activities: "In defense of digital freedom."

Masnick cites from the article when outlining a number of useful points, concluding, "It's always nice to know that there are some elected officials in the world . . . trying to base key policy decisions, including those around internet freedom, on reality rather than fear and hype."

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand where he is also Assistant Dean. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs.